Pages

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Baking (and breaking) bread with Darien Gee, plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

**Giveaway is now closed**

One time, when I went to visit my parents in Chicago, my mom had a freshly baked loaf of "Amish Friendship Bread" for me to try. It was absolutely delicious! She explained the premise of how the bread is made and how batches are given to friends so that they can continue the chain of bread making.

When I heard that Darien Gee had written a book called "Friendship Bread," I told my mom about it right away. I also knew that we had to feature Darien for "friendship month," as this novel will be available in paperback in early May.

Darien Gee is an author, wife, and mother of three. She’s a Libra Monkey, a chocoholic, and of late, an Amish Friendship Bread addict. (She and I have a few things in common, as we're both married with three kids and chocoholics.) A former California resident, Darien served on the board of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and ZYZZYVA, an award-winning literary journal. She’s an alum of Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Her next Avalon novel, "Memory Keeping," will be published in 2013 by Ballantine Books. You may also recognize her as Mia King, author of "Good Things,""Sweet Life" and "Table Manners." You can find Darien at her website (where she has recipes for Amish Friendship Bread), Facebook and Twitter.

Darien has two copies of "Friendship Bread" for some lucky US readers!

How did you meet your best friend?
It was a bit like love at first sight -- from across a crowded field of college students. I'd never met her before but we were going to talk about planning an event together, and when I spotted her, I knew.

﻿

Chocolate Chip Cherry Friendship Bread

Favorite memory shared with your best friend:
Learning how to make pesto. We were figuring out what to make for dinner one night -- our regular fare was completely uninspired -- and she brought out her blender and a handful of basil leaves. It was so easy, I'd have to say that was probably the first time I realized how fun and easy cooking could be.

Three words to describe your best friend:
Funny, smart, kind

Funniest thing you did with a friend:
We were at a wedding and nobody was using the disposable cameras on the tables. So, not wanting the bride and groom to be disappointed, we started snapping shots but ended up taking more pictures of ourselves than anyone else. I felt bad afterwards, but the bride and groom later told us the pictures made them laugh and a montage made it into their "official" wedding album.

Who would play your best friend in the movie of your life:
Tina Fey.

The nicest thing your best friend has ever done for you:
Got on a plane the minute I went into labor with my third child.

Favorite destination for a girls weekend/trip:
France. Or possibly Brazil.

Celebrity you'd like to be best friends with?
Ellen DeGeneres, hands down.

Special thanks to Darien for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers!

How to win "Friendship Bread":Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):1. Please tell us: What is your favorite memory of you and your best friend?2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Best memories are cooking together, making little 'parties' for two for New Years, birthdays, etc - out on the patio, dressing up the living room - and just kicking back & enjoying the fruits of our labor!

My favorite memories are of my friend and I starting kindergarden together and going to her house to play after school. We also attended the same church and went to Sunday School together. We graduated together. I still keep in touch with her. Although we aren't as close now, she will always be my friend!pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

My favorite memory with my friends was when we had an adult slumber party--popcorn and movies, and waking the next morning for brunch and a long walk in the woods. I think our best memories are yet to come.

My favorite memory of my best friend is sitting in her pear tree during those lazy summers, eating pears. We sometimes spent most of the day in that tree. I lost touch with her for many, many years and have now reconnected. I will be seeing her again in May! I can't wait! I am sure we will just pick up where we left off - I should bring a basket of pears!

1. I remember doodling and passing notes with my best friend in elementary school. Unfortunately we were a seat apart, separated by this one male classmate. So he would be our note-passer. But then he got so frustrated he had the teacher move seats around, putting us together instead...

This book sounds so good! One memory I have with my best friend actually is about Amish Friendship Bread - she was always making it: for co-workers, members of her congregation, Boy Scout den mothers, etc. I used to help her as much as I could (I am NOT a kitchen person) and remember having great conversations over the preparation.

I am a follower.

I tweeted about the book: https://twitter.com/#!/ggjunk/status/185564801710301185

I am very fortunate to have several best friends, and picking a favorite memory is hard.I think when we were in a hotel in San Francisco years ago, and the fire bells rang, and rang, and we realized something was wrong, but were not able to leave our room till we were fully dressed, had on our pearls, and had brushed out teeth! We ran into the firemen at the elevator, who told us were were obviously from NY, and anyone else would have run right out in our pajamas! AND I adored "The Friendship Bread" last year, and thought the cover was fabulous!JaniceinNJ@aol.com

Wow, too many great memories to choose from. We have been best friends for almost our whole lives. We went through school and jobs together. Went to each others weddings and parties. I honestly can't think of a specific single event. The whole experience of knowing this person has been just great for me.

Disclosure of Material Connection:

Some of the links in the posts above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and believe will add value to our readers. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."